Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a scientist and broadcaster referred to as the BBC’s ‘face of space’. Maggie is a pioneering figure in communicating science to the public, specifically school children, and also runs her own company, which engages children and adults all over the world with the wonders of space science.

Maggie has worked on many projects, from private industry to government contracts to academic research. She began in the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency on missile warning systems.

Overcoming Dyslexia to study at Imperial College she obtained her degree in Physics and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. After her studies, she toured the UK speaking to inner-city schools about what scientists do and why and how to be one with the aim of inspiring the next generation of physicists.

She holds a Science in Society Fellowship awarded in 2006 by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University for her contributions to the field of science education.

In 2006 she was one of six ‘Women of Outstanding Achievement’ winners with GetSET Women and in 2009 she was awarded a Member of the British Empire for her services to science and education.

Maggie is a research fellow and an Honorary Research Associate at University College London, and continues her work to engage the public with science.

As well as fronting The Sky at Night, Maggie has appeared in programmes including Stargazing Live, and She was the scientific consultant for the mini-series Paradox, and also appeared on Doctor Who Confidential. Maggie presented ‘Do We Really Need the Moon?’ on BBC 2, as well as In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our World.

In presentations the Sky At Night expert talks about exploring space with missions like Rosetta, and how we live in a galaxy with 200 billion stars. Maggie believes that with 100 billion galaxies in the universe, there must be life out there – simply as a matter of probability.